Dear Carolyn • My husband and I (as well as his sister and spouse) are at our wits’ end. Let me start by saying, I have a great relationship with my mother-in-law. Before we had kids, we vacationed with my husband’s immediate family, and went for dinner and drinks very frequently together. We live within minutes of my in-laws, but do not get or ask for a lot of help. When we do ask for baby-sitting help, we are made to feel like it is a major inconvenience. My sister-in-law gets the same response. We get a laundry list of things she has going on that MAY be impacted by a few hours with her grandchildren. It is usually hair and nail appointments, not work, medical appointments or other terribly pressing matters. I do not mean to imply that her obligations are any less important than mine. Although, we truly only ask when it is necessary and an occasional anniversary dinner without children. If it is that much of an inconvenience, we would prefer she just say "no" and leave it at that. Any advice on how we can approach this with her? We are all very frustrated.
J.
Dear J. • Best approach: Stop asking. It would be better if she just said "no," I agree. I also get that you want Grandma and grandkids to be close. Her huffing and puffing, though, are the equivalent of "no," with the added message that she feels bad enough about saying it that she’ll go out of her way not to. I’m not excusing this, just explaining it — though I think it’s something you already know. I think you also know that, yes, you are implying your "truly necessary" whatever is more important than her manicure. Own that position — otherwise it sounds pretty rich that you’re annoyed at her for not owning hers. If you don’t have even a short list of sitters you can hire, then you need to develop one. If you do have a short list and occasionally everyone is busy, then either you postpone your anniversary dinner to a workable night, or, OK, you ask your mother-in-law — knowing you’ll get 18 excuses and possibly no sitter. Part of any "wonderful" relationship is making allowances for the occasional non-wonderful thing that’s part of the package with every person on earth.
Carolyn Hax’s column runs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
-
Soldier’s slaying prompts U.K. security review
Published May 24, 2013 08:09:03PM -
Salt Lake airport: Man tried to fly with gun strapped to fake leg
Published May 24, 2013 07:54:32PM -
Utah veteran cemetery now has a scattering garden
Published May 24, 2013 07:52:26PM
Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
